Definition and Valuation John Smith FinPricing
Equity Swap Introduction The Use of Equity Swap Valuation Practical Guide A Real World Example Summary
Equity Swap Introduction An equity swap is an OTC contract between two parties to exchange a set of cash flows in the future. Normally one party pays the return based on capital gains and dividends realized on an equity security and the other party pays the return based on a floating interest rate plus a spread. The party receiving the equity returns gains exposure to the performance of the reference equity without actually owning the equity; hence this instrument can be used to obtain a leveraged exposure. On the other hand, the party receiving payments based on the reference rate receives protection against a loss in the value of the underlying equity. Unlike other swap types, the equity swap notional resets on each cash flow reset date, depending on the performance of the underlying asset.
The Use of Equity Swap Equity swaps allow parties to potentially benefit from returns of an equity security without the need to own its shares. A party enters an equity swap with the objective of either obtaining return exposure or hedge existing equity risk for a period of time. An equity swap can be used to transfer both the credit risk and the market risk of an underlying asset. Equity swaps can be also used to avoid transaction costs (including Tax), to avoid locally based dividend taxes, limitations on leverage (notably the US margin regime) or to get around rules governing the particular type of investment that an institution can hold. Equity swaps can make investment barriers vanish and help an investor create leverage.
Valuation There are two legs in an equity swap: an equity leg and a floating interest leg. The payoff for both legs could be set at every reset date or at maturity; or could be one side at maturity and the other at every reset date. The price of the swap is the difference between the present values of both legs' cash flows. In other words, the present value of swap is net of present value of "equity leg" and "money market leg".
Valuation (Cont) The present value of the equity leg is given by where t the valuation date PV equity (t) = N N the notational principal amount i the i th cash flow from 1 to n D i = D(t, T i ) the discount factor n i=1 S i S i 1 S i 1 S i = S PV i (D) e r i T i t - the equity forward price S the equity spot price at valuation date PV i D = d τ e r τ τ t t<τ<t i - the present value of all dividends between t and T i d τ the discrete dividend paid at τ where t τ T r i the continuously compounded interest rate from t to T i D i
Valuation (Cont) The present value of the floating interest rate leg can expressed as where t the valuation date PV floating (t) = N N the notational principal amount m i=1 i the i th cash flow (swaplet) from 1 to n τ i = τ(t i 1, T i ) D i = D(t, T i ) (F i + s)τ i D i the accrual period (T i 1,T i ) of the i th cash flow. the discount factor F i = 1 D i 1 1 - the simply compounded forward rate τ i D i s - the floating spread
Valuation (Cont) The present value of the equity swap from the equity receiver perspective is given by PV t = PV equity t PV floating (t)
Practical Guide We consider discrete dividends only as described in the equity future note. To value an equity swap, you need to generate cash flows first, based on the start time, end time and payment frequency of the leg, plus calendar (holidays), business convention (e.g., modified following, following, etc.) and whether sticky month end. Second, an interest rate curve needs to be constructed via the most liquid interest rate instruments. Then, you need to compute equity forward prices correctly by accounting for all discrete dividends. This is a key factor for all equity related valuation. Accrual period is calculated according to the start date and end date of a cash flow plus day count convention Forward rate is continuously compounded rather than other compounding types
A Real World Example Equity Leg Interest Rate Leg Currency USD Currency USD Initial Price 164.38 Leg Type Float Start Date 2/15/2017 Day Count dcact360 Maturity Date 8/15/2017 Notional 4931400 Shares 30000 PayReceive Receive Notional 4931400 Start Date 2/15/2017 PayReceive Pay Maturity Date 8/15/2017 Payment Frequency 1M Payment Frequency 1M Underlying 737446807= Spread 0.0075 Index Definition Index Day Count dcact360 Index Tenor 1M Index Type LIBOR
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